The race to decide who governs Aotearoa is entering its final stage, with advance voting opening on Monday, October 26, and the Electoral Commission issuing an urgent reminder that eligible New Zealanders must enrol by midnight this Sunday.
With just over two weeks until election day on Saturday, November 7, voting places will begin opening across the country, including at shopping centres, transport hubs, marae, community halls and tertiary institutions.
The Electoral Commission says 207 voting places will open on Monday, providing a combined 1,437 hours of voting on the first day.
By election day, more than 2,300 voting places will be operating nationwide.
Sunday Deadline: Enrol Before It’s Too Late
Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne is reminding eligible voters that they must be enrolled by midnight on Sunday, October 25, for their vote to count.
Unlike previous elections, voters will not be able to enrol at voting places once voting begins.
People who have not enrolled, or who need to update their details, can do so online at www.vote.nz using a New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or verified RealMe identity.
Enrolment forms can also be uploaded through the Electoral Commission website or emailed to enrol@vote.nz.
The Commission will have staff at events around the country this weekend to help people check their enrolment details and complete applications.
More Than 3.7 Million Already Enrolled
The latest Electoral Commission figures show 3,729,667 people were enrolled to vote as of October 21, already exceeding the final number enrolled for the 2023 general election.
However, the figures also highlight significant differences between age groups.
<text preserveWhitespace>{📊 18–24 years: 68.6% enrolled}</text>
📊 25–29 years: 87.0% enrolled
📊 30–34 years: 84.9% enrolled
📊 35–39 years: 91.3% enrolled
📊 40–44 years: 93.4% enrolled
📊 45–49 years: 95.6% enrolled
Across all age groups, the estimated enrolment rate stands at 92.1 percent.
The figures show younger New Zealanders remain substantially less likely to be enrolled than older voters.
Among 18- to 24-year-olds, just 302,475 of an estimated 440,692 eligible voters are enrolled.
That leaves approximately 138,000 young people in that age group not yet enrolled, according to the Commission’s population estimates.
Māori Electorates and Rangatahi Participation
For Māori voters, the approaching deadline is particularly important as campaigning intensifies across the seven Māori electorates.
The election will determine representation in Parliament and help shape decisions on issues affecting whānau, including housing, healthcare, education, the cost of living, employment and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Rangatahi participation is also a key issue, with the latest national figures showing the lowest enrolment rate is among 18- to 24-year-olds.
The Electoral Commission’s figures do not provide a Māori-specific breakdown in this release, but they underline the importance of ensuring eligible young people across Aotearoa understand the enrolment deadline.
Voting places will include marae and other community locations, making it easier for people to vote while going about their daily activities.
EasyVote Cards on Their Way
The Electoral Commission says EasyVote cards are being distributed by email and post ahead of voting.
Voters who have provided an email address will receive their cards electronically, while those with postal contact details or who are on the unpublished roll will receive them by post.
However, an EasyVote card is not required to vote.
The card simply helps electoral staff process voters more quickly.
People can find their nearest voting place and check opening hours through www.vote.nz or by calling 0800 36 76 56.
Key Election Dates
- Sunday, October 25: Enrolment closes at midnight.
- Monday, October 26: Advance voting begins.
- Saturday, November 7: Election day, with voting open from 9am until 7pm.
The Commission says advance voting locations and opening hours will vary, with the number of available voting places increasing as election day approaches.
Daily updates on the number of people who have voted will begin appearing on the Electoral Commission website from Tuesday, October 27.
Every Vote Starts With Being Enrolled
With the election campaign entering its final weeks, the Electoral Commission is encouraging eligible New Zealanders to check their details now rather than risk missing the deadline.
For whānau, particularly those with rangatahi voting for the first time, the message is straightforward: make sure everyone eligible is enrolled before midnight Sunday.
Advance voting begins Monday, but the opportunity to enrol closes the night before.
For enrolment information, voting locations and election updates, visit www.vote.nz.
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